WHAT WAS A THEATRE LIKE IN SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND? WHAT WERE INN-YARDS, COURTYARD THEATRES OR AMPITHEATRES, and PLAYHOUSES? WHAT WERE THE ROSE, THE SWAN, THE THEATRE, AND OTHER IMPORTANT THEATRES IN ELIZABETHAN AND JACOBEAN ENGLAND? WHAT WAS BLACKFRIAR’S THEATRE AND WHY WAS THIS AN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT IN THEATRE IN SHAKESPEARE’S TIME? HOW, IF AT ALL, WERE THESE THEATRES CONNECTED TO SHAKESPEARE? ANSWERED BY: VICTORIA L.
The theatre, or playhouse, quickly became the most popular place to go for those living in Shakespearean England. There were many different theatres and some in particular that would soon become some of the most famous theatres in history. Shakespeare also had specific connections to some of these theaters. If it were not for some of our first playhouses, such as Blackfriar's Theatre, the world and acting would not be the same.
There were many different types of theatres in Shakespearean England. Before the first theatre was created, plays were held in courtyards or inn-yards. Sometimes, they were even held in noble houses. Toby Forward, author of Shakespeare's Globe:An Interactive Pop-Up Theatre, stated that, "Inn-yards are stages on planks atop barrels with the audience in the galleries above". Amanda Mabillard, author of Shakespeare Online, explains each of the following theaters in great detail. The Rose Theatre was built by Philip Henslowe in 1587. The Rose was round and made of brick and timber. The Rose soon became very popular and many great actors performed on the beautiful stage of The Rose. The Swan was another theatre of the time. The Swan Theatre was built by Francis Langley in 1594. According to Amanda Mabillard, "The Swan is represented in the only contemporary drawing of the inside of an Elizabethan playhouse known to exist ." The Theatre was also a very famous theatre at the time. It was London's first public playhouse. The Globe is the last Theaters she explains, one of the greatest theatres that the world has ever known. The Globe was like Shakespeare's home. The Globe was home to the Lord Chamberlains Men, later known as the King's Men. Richard Burbage was the the leading actor of the King's Men who were the players that performed at The Globe. Shakespeare had many great connections to this theatre.
The Blackfriar's theatre represented a very important development in the construction of newer, more innovative theatres of this time. This theatre was served as a meeting place and an important place for many historic events. In 1596 James Burbage bought The Blackfriars. Burbage turned the many rooms that Blackfriar's Theatre had into private and indoor playhouses, as explained by GCSE Shakespeare Coursework on their website. Blackfriar's Theatre soon became the first theatre to have artificial lighting and trap doors. The Lord Chamberlain's Men were not able to perform in Blackfriar as their winter venue because of protests by local residents. When their title was the King's Men, they performed here, and used this theatre for a long time. The Blackfriar's theatre closed due to the English Civil War.
Overall the theatre was not only one of the most important places to Shakespeare, but it was one of the most important places to many people living in this time period. Without the theatre, the world would be a very different place. We would not have some of the worlds greatest theatre's such as the globe. The theatre became a popular place to attend for people of all different lifestyles.
WHAT WAS A THEATRE LIKE IN SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND? WHAT WERE INN-YARDS, COURTYARD THEATRES OR AMPITHEATRES, and PLAYHOUSES? WHAT WERE THE ROSE, THE SWAN, THE THEATRE, AND OTHER IMPORTANT THEATRES IN ELIZABETHAN AND JACOBEAN ENGLAND? WHAT WAS BLACKFRIAR’S THEATRE AND WHY WAS THIS AN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT IN THEATRE IN SHAKESPEARE’S TIME? HOW, IF AT ALL, WERE THESE THEATRES CONNECTED TO SHAKESPEARE? ANSWERED BY: VICTORIA L.
The theatre, or playhouse, quickly became the most popular place to go for those living in Shakespearean England. There were many different theatres and some in particular that would soon become some of the most famous theatres in history. Shakespeare also had specific connections to some of these theaters. If it were not for some of our first playhouses, such as Blackfriar's Theatre, the world
and acting would not be the same.
There were many different types of theatres in Shakespearean England. Before the first theatre was created, plays were held in courtyards or inn-yards. Sometimes, they were even held in noble houses. Toby Forward, author of Shakespeare's Globe:An Interactive Pop-Up Theatre, stated that, "Inn-yards are stages on planks atop barrels with the audience in the galleries above". Amanda Mabillard, author of Shakespeare Online, explains each of the following theaters in great detail. The Rose Theatre was built by Philip Henslowe in 1587. The Rose was round and made of brick and timber. The Rose soon became very popular and many great actors performed on the beautiful stage of The Rose. The Swan was another theatre of the time. The Swan Theatre was built by Francis Langley in 1594. According to Amanda Mabillard, "The Swan is represented in the only contemporary drawing of the inside of an Elizabethan playhouse known to exist ." The Theatre was also a very famous theatre at the time. It was London's first public playhouse. The Globe is the last Theaters she explains, one of the greatest theatres that the world has ever known. The Globe was like Shakespeare's home. The Globe was home to the Lord Chamberlains Men, later known as the King's Men. Richard Burbage was the the leading actor of the King's Men who were the players that performed at The Globe. Shakespeare had many great connections to this theatre.
The Blackfriar's theatre represented a very important development in the construction of newer, more innovative theatres of this time. This theatre was served as a meeting place and an important place for many historic events. In 1596 James Burbage bought The Blackfriars. Burbage turned the many rooms that Blackfriar's Theatre had into private and indoor playhouses, as explained by GCSE Shakespeare Coursework on their website. Blackfriar's Theatre soon became the first theatre to have artificial lighting and trap doors. The Lord Chamberlain's Men were not able to perform in Blackfriar as their winter venue because of protests by local residents. When their title was the King's Men, they performed here, and used this theatre for a long time. The Blackfriar's theatre closed due to the English Civil War.
Overall the theatre was not only one of the most important places to Shakespeare, but it was one of the most important places to many people living in this time period. Without the theatre, the world would be a very different place. We would not have some of the worlds greatest theatre's such as the globe. The theatre became a popular place to attend for people of all different lifestyles.
WORKS CITED
Books
Forward, Toby. Shakespeare's Globe- an interactive pop-up theatre. Cambridge, Massachussetts : Candlewick Press , 2005. Print.
Nardo, Don. The Globe Theater . Farmington Hills, MI: Blackbirch Press , 2005. 35-42. Print.
Websites
Mabillard, Amanda. Shakespeare's Theatres: The Swan. Shakespeare Online. 20 Aug. 2000. (date when you accessed the information) < http://www.shakespeare-online.com/theatres/theswan.html >.
Mabillard, Amanda. The Globe. Shakespeare Online. 20 Aug. 2000. (date when you accessed the information) < http://www.shakespeare-online.com/theatre/globe.html >.
Mabillard, Amanda. The Great Theatre. Shakespeare Online. 21 Nov. 2000. (date when you accessed the information) < http://www.shakespeare-online.com/theatre/burbagetheatre.html >.
Mabillard, Amanda. Shakespeare's Theatres: The Rose. Shakespeare Online. 20 Aug. 2000. (date when you accessed the information) < http://www.shakespeare-online.com/theatres/therose.html >.